What the World Needs Now…

The old song says “what the world needs now is love sweet love.” Love is good. We definitely need more of it—no doubt. But what the world is actually getting these days from the leader of the free world is, at best, mixed messages and, at worst, the impression that the United States cannot lead where freedom is concerned because we had a “value malfunction” after 9-11.

Sure, Barrack Obama has crisscrossed the globe apologizing for the “arrogance” of the U.S. and declaring the United States one of the largest Muslim countries in the world. Sure, some may believe that this is a golden road to a new golden age of understanding and worldwide happiness since America finally has a president who gets it. They will tell you how much better Obama is over Bush. They were so eager for Bush to be gone that they may not have thought through what it means to truly have the Anti-Bush take over and try and talk to the bad guys.

Case in point: No matter how you slice it, the recently sham election in Iran and subsequent crackdown by Mullah Control was one of the most horrific scenes we have witnessed in a long, long time. Our country’s official reaction was to reiterate that we “respect the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Finally, after some behind the scenes pushing from none other than Secretary of State Clinton, Obama said we were “appalled.” Anything less than total support for those seeking freedom is going to come across to the Iranian government and those countries that are rooting for it as weakness. The Mullahs must be absolutely giddy over the idea that the Iranian people can be cut down in the streets and nothing really happens. Make no mistake; they will take our official response as a sign that we are tired of standing up, tired of “paying any price” and “bearing any burden.”

The idea of waiting to see who wins out, the Mullahs or the people, will come back to haunt us. Freedom will eventually emerge in Iran someday based on what the people there have expressed. When that day comes, will they wonder where the United States was? Will they understand that our government did not want to meddle or be a “foil” for the two warring factions? Will they understand?

The truth is the United States is a foil. It is seen as the archetype for freedom by those who love freedom and by those who want to take freedom away. Like it or not, the United States will always come up in any conversation about those struggling to see dictators and repressive regimes be put where they belong—on the ash heap of history.

So, given that, I hope that our government and President Obama will wholly embrace the idea that United States should always openly support those that want to put off the shackles of tyranny. It is our place in the world. So many of our allies who love freedom have already eclipsed us in being outspoken on the Iranian elections. We should not fall behind. Even though Iran’s elections are now “officially” over, we can still support those who want a better day in that country. The ongoing, sustained support from the American president means something. Just go ask those who emerged from Soviet rule how the words and support of Ronald Reagan meant something over the long haul.

Things can change. We can have a better world. But we have to always stand for right and for freedom and for free elections. But there are those that also seeking to repress. Just ask the Hondurans. Let’s hope President Obama gets on the right side on that one—and fast! What the world needs now is support it can count on.